Duckbill slewing apparatus



June 23, 1953 w. F. FRYE DUCKBILL SLEWING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 16, 1951 "i K 5T INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS June '23, 1953 w. F. FRYE 2,642,983

DUCKBILL SLEWING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 16, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Zflz'ZZzzr Eye;

ATTORNEYS W. F. FRYE DUCKBILL SLEWING APPARATUS June 23, 1953 Filed Jan. 16, 19 51 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 m6 m m \Wv/ y .m \V W/%% A W Qw g N9 WFTMW m A W wW June 23, 1953 w. F. FRYE DUCKBILL suzwmc APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 16, 1951 INVENTOR. *1

ATTG RN EYE Patented June 23, 1953 DUCKBILL SLEWING APPARATUS Wilbur F. Frye, West Lafayette, Ohio Application January 16, 1951, Serial No. 206,270

6 Claims.

This invention relates to mining equipment, and in particular loading devices of the type having a shovel with outwardly diverging sides carried by the leading end of a reciprocating trough or conveyor and this invention relates to means for throwing or slewing the scoop or duckbill from side to side as it is reciprocated.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a duckbill slewing device that is actuated by the reciprocating action of the duckbill and trough upon which the duckbill is carried.

Various types of instrumentalities have been used for slewing duckbills or laterally actuating scoops of reciprocating troughs or feeders for conveyors but devices of this type are actuated by independent motors and the combination of the reciprocating and lateral movements of the duckbill or scoop requires comparatively complicated and heavy operating mechanism and the upkeep and repair. required by devices of this type in mine provides a serious problem. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a method of training a cable in the supporting and operating instrumentalitiesof a duckbill whereby the duckbill is actuated laterally as it is reciprocated and the lateral action is accomplished by the method in which the cable is trained through the apparatus.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for slewing a duckbill that is operated by a reciprocating action of the duckbill and trough upon which it is carried.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for training a cable through duckbill operating equipment for slewing the duckbillI laterally as it is reciprocated that may readily be incorporated in equipment now-in use.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide apparatus for actuating a duckbill laterally as it is reciprocated which is of a simple and economical construction. 3

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a reciprocating trough having a duckbill or scoop carried by one end suspended above anothertrough and a cable, the ends of which are anchored at points spaced from the sides of the trough, and wherein the cable is trained over pulleys on stationary and movable parts of the apparatus whereby with the cable held at one side of the trough the duckbill is slewed by the cable as the duckbill an carriage are reciprocatedlongitudinally.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with .the drawings wherein:

2 Figure 1 is a plan view of the duckbill mounting equipment showing a cable trained through the equipment and with the ends thereof positioned at points spaced from the sides of the equipment.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the duckbill and mounting equipment as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section through the apparatus showing the duckbill carrying trough suspended above the stationary trough and with pulleys journaled on a plate carried by the sta tionary trough.

Figure 4 is a detail illustrating one of .the clamps for securing the cable to sides of the trough.

Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the clamp with the part or a trough to which the clamp is attached shown in section.

Figure 6 is a plan view similar to that shown in Figure 1 illustrating a modification wherein the clamps are replaced by friction brakes which alternately grip the cable.

Figure 7 is a cross section through the apparatus, taken on line 'l-'! of Figure 6, also showing the reciprocating duckbill carrying trough and the stationary trough.

Figure 8 is a detail showing a side elevational 'view of one of the brakes or friction gripping elements, with parts broken away.

Figure 9 is a detail showing a plan view of the friction block forming brake shown in Figures 6 and 8.

, Figure 10 is a detail showing a section through the friction blocks of the brake.

Figure 11 is a cross section taken on line I l-l I of Figure 10 showing the friction blocks of the brake.

Figure 12 is a detail similar to that shown in Figure 8 showing a side elevational view of a .drum which provides a further modification in that the drum replaces the friction brake or clamp, ,Figure 13 is a plan view of the drum mounting illustrated in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a detail showing an end elevational view of the drum shown in Figure 12. Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the duckbill slewing apparatus of this invention includes a cable 10, a duckbill H carried by a shovel trough l2, a feeder trough IS, a transversely disposed plate l4 attached to the feeder trough l3 and a shoe l5 carried by the reciprocating or shovel trough l2.

With the parts arranged as illustrated in Figure 1 one end I6 of the cable I is anchored to a post I1 and the opposite end I8 is anchored to a post I9. The cable extends from the post I1 around a sheave on the plate I4, to the sheave 2| on the shoe I5, from the sheave 2| to a sheave 22 on the forward end'of the shovel trough, from the sheave 22 to a sheave 23 on the forward end of the plate I4, from the sheave 23 around the sheave 24, on the shovel trough l2, from the sheave 24 to the sheave 25 on the shoe I5, from sheave 25 around the sheave 26 on the plate I4, and extends from the sheave 26 to the anchor post [9.

The shovel trough I2 is provided with pivotal operating devices 21 and 28, of the conventional type by which the trough, on the forward end of which the duckbill or shovel is positioned is reciprocated, and as the trough is reciprocated with the cable free it will travel on a straight line extended through the longitudinal center of the apparatus.

When it is desired to swing the shovel or duckbill laterally one of the clamping devices 29 or 30, carried by the plate I4 and through which the cable extends is actuated to grip the cable, and when it is desired to swing the duckbill to the right the clamp 29 on the right hand side of the trough is actuated to grip the cable whereby with the cable held at that point the duckbill will swing to the right as the trough is reciprocated. By the same means the duckbill is reciprocated to the left by actuating the clamp 30 at the left hand side of the trough.

As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 the clamps 29 and 30 are formed with downwardly extended plates and corresponding plates, as indicated by the numeral 3| are urged toward the clamping plates by thumb nuts 32 on screws 33 which are carried by the clamp plates 29-and 30 and extend through openings in the plates 31. The cable I0 is positioned between the plates 29 and 3| and the plates are secured to the plates I4, by welding, as shown in Figure 5, or by other suitable means.

In the design illustrated in Figure 6 a cable 40, similar to the cable I0 is anchored to posts 4| and 42 and the cable extends from the post 4| around a sheave 43 on a plate 44, similar to the plate I4, from the sheave 43 around a sheave '45 on a sliding shoe '46, from the sheave 45 to a sheave 41 in the shovel trough, from the sheave 41 around a sheave 49 on the plate 44, and from the sheave 48 around a sheave 49 also on the shovel trough, from the sheave 49 around a sheave 50 on the opposite side of the shoe 46 and from the sheave 59 around a sleeve 5| on the plate 44 to the anchor post 42.

Between the sheaves 45 and 41 on one side and 49 and 50 on the opposite side the cable extends through friction brakes 52 and 53, shown in detail in Figures 8, 9 and 10 wherein tapering sleeves 54 and 55 are mounted in an opening 56 in a block 51. The sleeves 54 and 55 are-provided with sections 58 and 59 of a collar and a ring 66 is positioned in semi-circular grooves BI and 62 of the collar whereby with the ring actuated by a hand lever 63 through arms 84 and65 the sections are actuated outwardly from the block 51 to release the cable and inwardly to clamp the cable so that clamping means similar to the blocks 29 and 30, shown in Figure 1, are provided on opposite sides of the device.

The levers E4 and 65 are provided with yokes 66 that extend over pins 61 and 68, respectively which extend from opposite sides of the ring-60.

The hand lever 63, and the arms 34 and B5 are mounted on a shaft 69, which is journaled in bearings 10 and 1| of a frame 12, and the shaft is provided with a lever 13 that actuates a similar brake mechanism on the opposite side of the trough with the extended end of the lever 13 connected by a yoke 14 and a bolt 15 to an arm 18 on a cross shaft 11. A similar arm is provided on the opposite end of the shaft 11, as indicated by the numeral 18 and this arm is connected to a shaft 19, similar to the shaft 69 through a lever 30, a yoke BI and the bolts 82, similar to corresponding parts of the brake device on the opposite side of the trough. The shaft 11 is journaled in bearings 83 and 84 extended from the plate 44 which is attached to the under side from the feeder trough 85, similar to the trough I3.

The brakes 52 and 53 are mounted on brackets 86 and 81 and springs 88 are provided between the ends of the tapering members 54 and 55 and an upwardly extended end '89 of the bracket.

In the design illustrated in Figures 12, 13 and 14 the friction blocks or brake devices are replaced by drums 90 around which a cable 9| is wrapped and the drums are mounted on shafts 92, the lower ends of which are journaled in plates 93, similar to the plates I4 and 44, andthe upper ends of which are jo'urnaled in brackets 94. The upper ends of the drums 90 are provided with brake drums and brake bands 96 are positioned around the drums. The ends 91 and 98 of the brake bands extend outwardly, as shown in Figure 13 and cams 99 and I00, positioned on a shaft IOI,' and actuated by a hand lever I02 urge the ends together when it is desired to grip and hold the cable drums stationary. Springs I03 are provided between the ends 91 and 98 urging the ends outwardly to release the brakedrums when the ends are released by the cams. The shaft IN is journaled in the bracket I04 and the hand lever I02 urged upwardly by aspring I05.

The springs I05 are mounted in upwardly extended plates I05 and cable guides I01 extend from the plate I06 to the plate 93 as shown in Figure 14. Idler pulleys I08 are provided on brackets I09 at the opposite sides of the drums and sheaves I I0, similar to the sheaves '43 and 5| are journaled on the under side of the plate 93.

The duckbill slewing apparatus may, therefore, be provided with means for clamping or directly gripping the cable on either side of the trough or the cable may be wrapped around drums and the braking elements provided on the drums.

With the parts arranged in this manner the gripping device on the right hand Side of the trough is tightened when it is desired to swing the shovel to the right, and as the cable is locked on the right hand side, that part thereof between the right hand sheave 43 and the anchor 4| will be decreased in length causing the duckbill to be pulled to the right as the shovel trough is reciprocat'ed. By the same means the grippin device on the left hand side of the troughmay be tightened and the gripping device on the right hand side released when it is desired to swing the duckbill or shovel to the left. With both of the gripping devices released the shovel trough will reciprocate in a straight line on the longitudinal center of the feeder trough.

In operation the sliding shoe I5, which is movable with the shovel trough |2, carries a pair of sheaves 2I--25, one on each side. At the forward end, the shovel trough carries a pair of sheaves 2224, one on each side. A plate M, is carried by the feeder trough and it, in turn, carries a pair of sheaves 20-26, one on each side. In addition, the plate carries a forwardly disposed centrally located sheave 23. The plate [4 also carries a pair of-identical rope gripping devices 29-30, which are engageable with the inner strands of rope ID. The rope is arranged as shown, being connected to the sockets |1l9 which are anchoredat opposite sides of the duckbill. When the duckbill is loading but is not swinging, both gripping devices 29 and 30 will be loose. To swing to the right, the right hand gripping device 29 is tightened, following which the operator retracts the shovel trough in the usual manner, thereby causing the distance between the sheaves 2l-25 and 2026 to increase. Since the rope is locked in gripping device 29, that part between the right hand sheave 20 and socket i! will be decreased in length, causing the duckbill to be pulled to the right. Conversely, if only the gripping device 30 is tightened, the duckbill will be swung to the left when the shovel trough is retracted.

On the other hand, if the shovel trough is extended while gripping device 29 is tight, the duckbill will be swung to the left. Similarly, if the shovel trough is extended while gripping device 30 is tight, the du-ckbill will be swung to the right.

The power to swing the duckbill from right to left is taken from the shovel trough rails by gripping of the grip blocks controlled by the operating levers of the operating carriers, the operating carriers being driven by the feeder trough, and the feeder trough being driven by the pan line.

It will be understood that other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A duckbill slewing device comprising a feeder trough, a shovel trough having a shovel on the forward end suspended above and aligned with the said feeder trough, a shoe carried by the trailing end of the shovel trough, a plate positioned adjacent the shovel end of the feeder trough and mounted on the under surface thereof, sheaves journaled on the shoe, plate, and shovel, a cable extended around the sheaves on the shoe, shovel and plate and extended laterally from the sides of the trough, means anchoring the ends of the cable at points spaced from the sides of the troughs, and cable gripping means mounted on the plate and positioned on opposite sides of the troughs.

2. A duckbill slewing device comprising a feeder trough, a, shovel trough having a shovel on the forward end suspended above and aligned with the said feeder trough, a shoe carried by the trailing end of the shovel trough, a plate positioned adjacent the shovel end of the feeder trough and mounted on the under surface thereof, sheaves on the ends of the plate and positioned on opposite sides of the said trough, a centrally-positioned sheave journaled on the said plate and positioned midway of the ends thereof, sheaves on the ends of the shoe and also positioned on opposite sides of the trough, sheaves journaled on opposite sides of the shovel, a cable extended around the sheaves on the ends of the plate positioned intermediate of the ends of the trough, around sheaves on the ends of the shoe carried by the shovel trough, around trough and mounted on the under surface thereof, sheaves on the ends of the plate and positioned on opposite sides of the said trough, a centrally positioned sheave journaled on the said plate and positioned midway of the ends thereof, sheaves on the ends of the shoe and also positioned on opposite sides of the trough, sheaves journaled on opposite sides of the shovel, a cable'trained over a sheave'on one end of the said plate, over a sheave on the shoe, around a sheave on the shovel, around the sheave on the center of the plate, around a, sheave on the opposite side of the shovel, around a sheave on the opposite end of the shoe, and around a sheave on the opposite end of the said plate, means anchoring the ends of the cable at points spaced from the sides of the trough, and gripping means on both sides of the trough for alternately gripping the cable.

4. A duckbill slewing device comprising a feeder trough, a shovel trough having a shovel on the forward end suspended above and aligned with the said feeder trough, a shoe carried by the trailing end of the shovel trough, a plate positioned adjacent the shovel end of the feeder trough and mounted on the under surface thereof, sheaves on the ends of the plate and positioned on opposite sides of the said trough, a centrally positioned sheave journaled on the said plate and positioned midway of the ends thereof, sheaves on the ends of the shoe and also positioned on opposite sides of the trough, sheaves journaled on opposite sides of the shovel, a cable extended around the sheaves on the ends of the plate positioned intermediate of the ends .of the trough, around sheaves on the ends of the shoe carried by the shovel trough, around sheaves on the shovel, around the centrally po-v sitioned sheave on the plate, and extended from the sheaves on the ends of the plate to anchoring points spaced from the sides of the trough, and thumb screw actuated clamps mounted on the ends of the said plate and positioned on opposite sides of the trough for alternately clamping the cable to the plate.

5. A duckbill slewing device comprising a feeder trough, a shovel trough having a shovel on the forward end suspended above and aligned with the said feeder trough, a shoe carried by the trailing end of the shovel trough, a plate positioned adjacent the shovel end of the feeder trough and mounted on the under surface thereof, sheaves on the ends of the plate and positioned on opposite sides of the said trough, a centrally positioned sheave journaled on the said plate and positioned midway of the ends thereof, sheaves on the ends of the shoe and also positioned on opposite sides of the trough, sheaves journaled on opposite sides of the shovel, a cable extended around the sheaves on the ends of the plate positioned intermediate of the ends of the trough, around sheaves on the ends of the shoe carried by the shovel trough, around sheaves on the shoveL-around the centrally positioned sheave on the plate, andextended from the sheaves on the ends'of the plate to anchoring points spaced from the sides of the trough, and lever actuated friction gripping blocks mounted on the said plate and positioned to receive the cable on opposite sides of the troughs foralternately gripping the cable atthe sides of the troughs.

6. A duckbill slewing device comprising a feeder trough, a shovel trough having a shovel on the forward end suspended above and aligned with the said feeder trough, a shoe carried by the trailing end of the shovel trough, a plate positioned adjacent the shovel end of the feeder trough and mounted on the under surface thereof, sheaves on the ends of the plate and positioned on opposite sides of the saidtrough, a centrally positioned sheave journaled on the said plate and positioned midway of the ends thereof, sheaves on the ends of the shoe and also positioned on opposite sides of the trough, sheaves journaled on opposite sides of the shovel,

a cable trainedover asheave on one end 01 the said plate, over a sheave on the shoe, around a sheave-on the shovel,-around the sheave on the center of'the plate, around a sheave on the opposite side of the shovel, around a sheave on the opposite end of the shoe, and around a sheave on the opposite end of the said plate, means anchoring the ends of the cable at points spaced from the sides of the trough, drums journaled on the said plate and positioned on opposite sides of the troughs, the said cable being wrapped around the said drums, and brakes for temporarily holding the said drums.

WILBUR F. FRYE. 

